A community-wide promotion of asthma self-management in New Zealand.

Asthma affects approximately 9% of young adults in New Zealand, with evidence of an increase in prevalence over recent years. Morbidity and mortality from this condition have caused widespread concern. In response to identified deficiencies in asthma management, initiatives to promote self-management using an asthma action plan were promoted throughout the Canterbury region in 1991 as part of a regional pilot study. A resource kit was prepared and self-management principles were promoted to general practitioners in discussion workshops. A community-wide promotion of the action plan was followed by a process and outcome evaluation. The plan and associated resources were well received by doctors and patients. Seventy-seven percent of doctors responding to a questionnaire had used the plan, and of these, 94% indicated that they would continue to use the plan in the future. Patients who obtained a completed plan experienced a greater reduction in nocturnal waking with asthma and improved self-management skills.

A community wide promotion of asthma self management: process evaluation.

AIMS: During the months February through July 1991, a community wide promotion of asthma self-management was undertaken as a pilot study for the national launch of an asthma action plan developed by the Asthma Foundation of New Zealand in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team of hospital and community-based health workers was established, with the aim of educating and resourcing general practitioners, practice nurses and retail pharmacists to enable them to effectively promote and distribute the asthma action plan. 332 general practitioners and 148 retail pharmacists were surveyed through postal and telephone questionnaires at the completion of the promotion, to assess its impact on health professionals and to obtain feedback for the national promotion of the asthma action plan. RESULTS: 108 (73%) of pharmacists who responded and were involved with the promotion found their participation to be worthwhile, although some had difficulty allocating sufficient time to give detailed advice to patients. Of the 240 general practitioners who responded, 77% indicated that they had used the asthma action plan with their patients. They were positive about the use of the workshop format that had provided education and resources for the plan, and of those that had used the plan, 94% indicated that they would continue to promote the plan, or one similar. CONCLUSIONS: The promotion of the asthma action plan in Canterbury had a major impact on health professionals. The community-wide promotion might have had a greater impact on people with asthma had television advertising been used. The pilot project provided useful feedback for the Asthma Foundation in their preparation for the national launch.